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sedan. She got in the passenger seat and looked at Parker. “Where to next?”
“Time to get a new car,” he said. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, he’s been calm,” she leaned on the window and rubbed her scar.
“Whatdidhappen to your brother?”
“We were in a car accident. He was driving but wasn’t wearing his seat belt. A car crossed into our lane and hit us. He flew through the windshield. He has brain damage. His IQ dropped almost 100 points. Me, I have this lousy scar,” she said, as she rubbed her forehead.
“I’m sorry. You’ve been taking care of him?”
“We all were, but now it’s all up to me,” she sighed.
He patted her leg. “I know it’s hard on you. Iamsorry.”
“No, you’renot. Mylifejust got taken away.”
“Somelife.”
“What’sthatsupposed to mean?” she snapped.
“You’ve lived in the same apartment for fifteen years. You only work and go home. I don’t even know if you sleep. You don’t have a life except for your job. No lover, nothing.”
“My love life is none of your business.”
“Sam, youdon’thave one. Now,whyis that?”
“After Ed died a few years ago, I just wasn’t looking for it. Why do you have to knoweverythingabout me?”
“We’re going to be working together. I know your strengths. I need to know your weaknesses,” he said, as he pulled into the parking garage.
“Well, that should go both ways,” she said.
“I’m an open book. What do you want to know?” he asked, as they got out of the car.
“Hey, I thought we were going car shopping.”
“Those,” he pointed, “areourcars,” he grinned.
“Which one is mine?” she smiled.
“Which one do you want?”
“The blackjag. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, I can take the redPorsche. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, black is less conspicuous and since I’ll be doing all the … well, you know,” she said.
“Whatever you want,” he threw her the keys. “We should get upstairs and start planning.”
She followed him to the elevator and took a deep breath as the doors closed behind them.
He led her to the penthouse and opened the door. “So, what do you think?”
“Wow, never been in a penthouse before.”
“I thought your parents were rich?”
“They live, lived in a modest brownstone,” she walked over to the large windows that overlooked the city.
“Sam, I’m so sorry about your parents.”
She turned and looked at him. “Parker, why me?”
“You’re theonlyone.”
“This isn’t FBI funded, is it?”
“Yeah, they have our backs. Don’t worry. I know you don’t like this, but it’s the only way.”
“I want to see.”
“What?”
“My parents.”
“You can’t. I’m sorry.”
“Let me see the crime scene photos.”
“Sam, are you sure you want to see that?”
“I have to. I’m … I mean, I was a cop. I can handle it.”
He opened his briefcase and took out a file folder. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she sat down on the large, leather sofa and took the folder from his hand. She sighed heavily and tears streamed down her face as she reviewed each photo. “You’re sure that Jack Morrison did this? It looks a lot like a rage killing, not … well … elimination.”
“Well, not personally. But, it was his men. He left his calling card. Photo number 10,” he sat next to her.
She skimmed through the photos. “The yellow rose. Damn that bastard. Why did he kill them?”
“I don’t know. We’re thinking it was to get to Kyle. I’m sorry about your parents and your brother. You have to think about yourself and Dylan. Sam, your room is down the hall to your right. Take your time and get settled in.”
“Thanks, Parker,” she said, as she headed down the hall. She opened up the door and dropped on the bed. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she stared at the ceiling. “I hated my life before, but this is the worst. How could it get worse?” she cried. “Jack, why’d you have to drag my family into this? How could you do something this horrible… tome?” she whispered, as she curled up with the pillow.
“Sam?” Parker asked, as he knocked on the door.
She sat up quickly, “Oh, sorry. I must’ve dozed off. What is it?” “I know that you’re just getting settled but we need to get
started.”
“Where do we start?”
He sat next to her. “Well, our cover is that we’re lovers. So, we
have to learn to get comfortable around each other.”
Sam stood up. “So, we’re going to havesex?”
“Um, that’s not what I was talking about, but is that what you
want?”
“I don’t evenknowyou. I haven’t been with anyone since Ed
died.”
“I understand. No, I’m not asking for sex right now. Maybe we’ll
haveto do that, but we need to get comfortable just being with each
other. We need to get to know each other and be … well friendly.” “I agree. Stand up,” she said.
He stood up and walked over to her. “OK.”
She took his hand and placed it against her heart. “Well, I think I
know what we should do.”
“What’s that?”
“Well,” she smiled. “When we look at each other, we have to
make it real. We have to make it like we love each other. When we gaze
into each other’s eyes, it has to be like we’re the only ones in the room.” “Wearethe only ones in the room.”
“Youknowwhat I mean,” she leaned up and ran her hands
through his dark hair.
“I get it. Well, Sam, you are a beautiful woman,” he lightly
touched her scar on her forehead. “So, it won’t besodifficult for me to
look at you.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I haven’t felt like that in a long time.” He lightly touched her face and pulled her into a soft kiss. She
gave into his passionate kisses. “Sam, it’s all right.”
“Is it?” she whispered. “Well, yeah, this is going to be kind of
strange… but it’s the only way I can see how to do it.”
“What is it?”
“I think we should see each other … well … you know …
without our clothesoff.”
“I thought sex was off limits right now.”
“We’ll see…” she started to loosen his tie. “I know you’re
nervous. So am I. You’re right. We have to be comfortable with each
other. If we get this first part, the intimacy over with, we’ll be so
comfortable with each other. The rest will come to us, naturally.” “Are yousureabout this?” he smiled, as he took off his suit
jacket.
“Iamnervous. But, it wasyouridea,” she smiled.
“I guess. Wow, you know, I didn’t realize I would be so nervous
being alone with a beautiful woman.”
“To be honest, I never have sex with men that I just met. We
have to get to know each other. I am a little nervous. Right now, it’s not
even about sex. It’s about comfort. We have to get this discomfort out
of the way. I don’t mean just looking at each other nude, but our own
self-consciousness about standing here in the nude.”
“I get it. Even when I’ve had sex, we didn’t stand in the middle
of the room and get naked, and then stare at each other.”
“We’re not staring. We’re … um … well… we’re noticing things.
It will help with the comfort. Please, don’t be embarrassed.” “I’ll try, if you try.”
“I have to warn you, I do have a few other scars. I hope that
doesn’t scare you away from me,” she sighed.
He lightly touched her shoulders and leaned in and kissed her
again. “I think you’re right. This will work. I do like kissing you. You’re
a very passionate and sexy kisser,” he said, as he started to unbutton her
blouse.
She grabbed his belt and loosened it. She slowly pulled it from
his waist. She unzipped his pants, as he unsnapped her jeans. Both of
them stepped out of their pants. She stepped back and smiled. “Feels
weird, doesn’t it?”
He laughed slightly. “Yeah, just a little.”
She ran her hands down his legs and slipped off the boxers.
“That’s why we’re doing it. I mean, it’s not like we’re going to have sex
in public, but we need to know each other’s body and how to read it,”
she lightly ran her hands over his chest and outlined his tattoo with her
finger. “I like the tattoo,” she kissed the sword that was wrapped with a
rose. She slowly removed her panties and kicked them on the floor. “Thanks, it stands for strength and love. I don’t have love, but I
hope I have strength.”
“Some day, you may have both,” she smiled.
“So, areyouhiding any tattoos?” he smiled.
“Two,” she turned around and pointed to her left shoulder. He gazed at the rose that was surrounded by daggers. “Kind of
similar, huh?”
She turned around and smiled. “Yeah, I guess, and this one,” she
touched her lower back. “It’s barbed-wire. It was a gift … from an old
friend.”
“Sam,” he whispered, as he lightly ran his hands down her body. “Parker, it’s all right. You have soft hands,” she whispered, as
she leaned into his touch.
“Your body is so soft and sexy,” he smiled, as he kissed her
shoulder.
She ran her hands up his large, tanned biceps. “Bullet wound?”
she asked, as she fingered the circular scar on his upper arm. “Yeah, it was a through and through. Nothing serious. Have you
ever been shot before?”
“Yeah, twice. The rose tattoo covers one of the scars. The other
bullet wound scar is located here,” she lightly pushed him on the bed
and set her foot on the bed next to him. She took his hand and ran it up
her thigh. “Right here,” she flirted.
“What are the other scars from?” he lightly touched the long,
thin scar across her stomach.
“From the accident. When I hit the dashboard, the glove box
opened up and it cut open, right there.”
“Sounds painful,” he said.
“It was. But, back to us,” she gently laid him on the bed and laid
on top of him. “I think sex shouldwait.”
“Well, we botharenaked,” he laughed slightly.
“I think we should hold each other. We need to feel that
comfort.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m nottryingto tease you,” she smiled. “Are
you…”
“Um, yeah, can’t you tell?” he smiled.
“Hold me and I’ll take care of you, if you’ll take care of me,
too.”
“I’ll take care of you. I promise and I don’t mean just about this. I’ll always have your back, Sam,” he held her close to him as they
covered up with a blanket.
“I don’t know why I’m starting to trust you,” she whispered. “The job is going to get harder,” he said. “No pun intended.” She laughed slightly. “I know. One thing at a time,” she said, as
she laid her head on his chest.
“Have you ever killed anyone before?”
“Yes, have you?”
“Yes, in the line of duty.”
“Same here. I guess that’s like self defense.”
“Did it affect you?”
“I think it did. You know, I went through all the psychobabble
crap with the department shrink, but, yeah, it did affect me. It made me
feel better that I was alive. I know it’s strange.”
“No, I felt the same way. Do you think that you can kill
someone and have itnotbe self defense?”
“Only if I’mnotkilling a family of five or a cop.”
“No, I swear, anyone you kill willnotbe innocent.” “Do you have a first mark in mind?” she said, as she ran her
hands down between his legs.
“Not at this moment,” he leaned back, as he breathed heavily.
“Oh, wow,” he gulped. “Oh, I can’t believe I just did that already.” She leaned up and kissed him softly. “It’s all right.” “It’s been so long. I’m sorry,” he said, embarrassingly. “Don’t be, now just return the favor,” she smiled.
“I can do that,” he said, as he ran his hands down her body.